Econoving International Chair in Generating Eco-Innovation

About

A high-quality environment

The continuous expansion of UVSQ is backed up by a strong commitment to modernisation of its staff and students working environment.

Firmly anchored in the local community

Created in 1991 and vigorously supported by the regional authorities, UVSQ plays a role in the regional development of the Yvelines area, with sites at the heart of seven towns (Versailles and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, along with Vélizy, Mantes-la-Jolie, Rambouillet, Le Chesnay, Poissy). It has also recently established itself in the Hauts-de-Seine département, after integrating the Garches medical centre into its network (Garches, Boulogne). With sites such as Versailles, Port-Royal des Champs or Rambouillet, located close to the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse et des boucles de la Seine natural park, the university benefits from a rich historic, architectural, cultural and natural environment.Keeping this exceptional context in mind, the university develops research and training programmes in partnership with neighbouring major cultural establishments.Research programmes and high-level vocational training programmes have been set up and are oriented towards the university's nearby cultural environment. Based on the interaction between sciences and technology on the one hand and humanist culture on the other, these training programmes concern the tourism sector, professions in the history field (archive science, museology, conservation), along with intercultural communication, multimedia, development of scientific and technical culture. By forging partnerships, the university ensures that its environment benefits from multidisciplinary expertise and contributes to its development, enhancement and reputation.

Infrastructure

In March 2005, UVSQ opened the new Guyancourt university library. Designed to provide multidisciplinary information and documentation (law, political science, economics, management, literature, language, history, geography, sociology, medicine), the university library covers 7500 m2 over three levels and has a multimedia space, group work rooms and individual carrels. The building, which is spacious and light, matches its environment. The Sources de la Bièvre park now acts as the library gardens. Helping to develop a campus approach in a high-quality location, the new university library is designed to provide the best possible service for the university community.It supplements the university library services already available in Versailles (science) and at the Vélizy, Rambouillet and Mantes-la -Jolie sites (technology).Various other projects are likely to emerge within the longer term. These will involve important infrastructures that should strengthen the university, its position in the region and the quality of services offered to students: a university library at the Versailles Faculty of Science, a Faculty of Medicine and the Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute building at Guyancourt.

A rich and diversified student life

Student Life Department

The Student Life department was created to serve as a link between the university and students. Its mission is to assist, support and inform students in their various cultural and community activities. It also offers a range of practical services: consultation of job vacancies, accommodation vacancies, provision of computer equipment, etc.

Défi Actions Culturelles (DAC - Cultural Activities Challenge)

Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines university has adopted an ambitious cultural policy. Within this context it has set up the DAC.The challenge has three objectives: - Student training, creativity, expression: instigating and encouraging the arts on university sites;- A dynamic university: giving vitality to university life;- Special access to theatres: cultural structures, the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines community authority, the town of Versailles and UVSQ have joined forces to enable students to benefit from local cultural life at a lower cost.

The new Maison de l'Étudiant (Student Centre)

The university plans to create a new space fully dedicated to students and their personal, associative, civic and cultural fulfilment at the heart of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.Part of the 2006/2009 plan, this Student Centre will aim to become a place of exchange, creativity and debate. It should also help students integrate more easily within the university community. Outward-looking, to the new town and the region as a whole, it will play an active role in extending the university's sphere of influence.

Cultural and social initiatives for university staff

Joint Socio-Cultural Activities Department (SCASC)

Created in response to a demand expressed by administrative and teaching staff and students, the SCASC aims to lead social activities for the establishment's staff, promoting cultural, educational, sports and leisure activities offered to UVSQ personnel. It organises numerous events and lectures, partnerships, competitions, etc

COSAC

In parallel with or in collaboration with other departments, COSAC, the UVSQ's staff association, develops cultural and social activities aimed at all the university's staff: travel, ticket reservations, purchasing of products at special rates, etc.

A socially-responsible university

Welfare

Committees meet regularly to provide grants for students or personnel experiencing difficulties.The SCASC guides university personnel with respect to the welfare services administered by the Ministry of Education and the education authorities.

Social responsibility

Various actions have been developed in recent years, such as the anti-smoking campaign, health campaigns, blood donations, raising students' awareness of citizenship, their involvement in elections, the importance of representation on university committees. Lastly, a large number of student associations work actively all year long to support a variety of causes.

Key figures for the UVSQ

Students :

Around 16000 students enrolled, broken down as follows:- 9500 in general programmes and 6000 in vocational programmes- 700 doctoral students- 2000 enrolled in life-long learning programmes leading to a qualification or apprenticeship programmes- 2300 foreign students from 112 different countries- 2000 students holding special grants and scholarships- 7920 from within the Yvelines district- 50% female students

University staff :

- 1000 members of the teaching faculty (professors and lecturers), with an average age of about 40 years and 40% women- 650 engineering, technical, administrative and service staff (IATOSS), with an average age of less than 42 years and 70% women- 500 researchers, technicians and administrative staff (ITA) employed by the various national research organisations (CNRS, IRD, INSERM, CEA, INRA, INRIA) working in partnership with the university

University's annual budget :

- 120 million euros annual base budget - 4 million euros in research contracts received and managed directly by the university- 1 million euros in business contributions to university teaching and training programmes- 2.5 million euros annual turnover for life-long learning programmes

Master's Programmes at Econoving International Chair in Generating Eco-Innovation